DNS Record Types
DNS record types define the data a DNS entry carries, such as an IP address, an alias, a mail server, or verification text.
- glossary
DNS record types define the kind of data stored in a DNS resource record. The type tells a resolver how to interpret the answer; one domain can have different records for its website, email, and other services. 1
Common DNS record types
| Type | What it contains | Typical role |
|---|---|---|
| A | An IPv4 address | Locate a host by address. |
| AAAA | An IPv6 address | Locate a host over IPv6. |
| CNAME | Another domain name | Make one name an alias of another. |
| MX | A mail-server name and preference | Identify where incoming email should go. |
| TXT | One or more text strings | Publish text consumed by verification and other protocols. |
A, CNAME, MX, and TXT are defined in RFC 1035. AAAA is defined in RFC 3596. 1 2
A custom-domain email setup uses these records together: MX directs incoming mail, while provider-supplied records support domain verification and sender authentication.
Reading an A record and a CNAME
An A record points to an IPv4 IP address; a CNAME points to another name whose records must then be resolved. A CNAME is a DNS alias, not a web-page redirect: it does not specify an HTTP redirect destination or a URL path. Choose the record your hosting provider asks for rather than treating these types as interchangeable. 1
The nameservers publish the records. Changing one type does not automatically update other services: changing a website’s A record does not, by itself, change its MX record. Cached answers can also persist during DNS propagation.
Sources and further reading
- 1. IETF — RFC 1035, standard record types and A records — fetched 2026-09-15.
- 2. IETF — RFC 3596, AAAA records — fetched 2026-09-15.
Related keywords
- A record vs CNAME
- AAAA record
- MX record
- TXT record
- DNS records explained
- DNS Record Types
- what is DNS Record Types
- DNS Record Types meaning
- DNS Record Types definition